I left my square mile of normal stomping grounds today to drive south to the Point Beach State Forest in Two Rivers. The park is on the shore of Lake Michigan, only an hour and a half drive from home, and today a place for me to meet my coworker and her partner who are visiting Wisconsin for the week. It’s been seven months since I’ve seen her (and most people from my work), so we spent a couple of hours walking along the leaf-covered trails, checking out the lake, and catching up on stuff that doesn’t come up in everyday work interactions. And don’t worry, we kept our masks on the whole time!
I’m such a homebody, so gearing up to spend a day anywhere takes a little bit of extra willpower, but it turned out to be a really beautiful day to be outside on the trails. And for all my grumbling, I really do like human interaction and missed seeing people in person — I was thankful we were able to find a place outside (and that we are equally conscious of masks and general social distancing) to connect for the afternoon.
Plus, even the drive can be relaxing. It’s mostly on country highways along the shoreline with few cars and pretty views. Listening to my audiobook or some music made the time feel meditative and pass by quickly.
I’m also glad I started exploring this park since my friend Jenna is in Milwaukee and this seems like a great future halfway meeting spot to do some hiking! I haven’t spent much time on the Lake Michigan coast outside of Door County so these little slivers about my home state feel more grounding now that I am permanently home.
With Love,
Natalie